Water

Nate Downey is author of “Harvest the Rain: How to Enrich Your Life by Seeing Every Storm as a Resource.” He is an expert in both passive and active water harvesting systems as well as wastewater harvesting and community water harvesting techniques.

For over a decade, Downey has spoken, taught and written about permaculture practices. He owns Santa Fe PermaDesign, a landscape-design firm whose projects emphasize beauty, function and ecology.

Lecture: $10.

He will also be hosting an all day workshop, The New American Landscape: Passive Water Harvesting, on Oct. 26: $175.

http://greensourcedfw.org/events/dcccd-new-american-landscape-passive-water-harvesting-dallas

Dr. Nancy Grimm, a renowned expert in stream and urban ecology from Arizona State University will speak on "Adding the ‘techno’ into urban socio-ecological research." Hosted by the Department of Biology. Info: Dr. Laura Gough, 817-272-1453 or gough@uta.edu. Free.

Three-day green conference featuring more than 250 speakers, as well as exhibitions, workshops, meetups, film screenings and panel discussions.  DFW environmentalists Amy King, Anna Clark, Charlotte Vick, Mark McWilliams and Mark Hallwill will present a panel discussion on Ocean Conservation through Social Innovation on Oct. 7. $375.

Meghna Tare, the director of the UTA Office of Sustainability, will speak about ways UTA is striving to become a leader in campus sustainability through greening facility operations, championing innovative research, encouraging student projects, promoting an environmentally and sustainability focused curriculum and sponsoring public service. Free.

This program covers design, construction, maintenance and benefits of a rainwater collection system.  Participants will learn how to calculate rainwater capture, design an above or below ground collection system and utilize rainwater using large tank systems for home or business applications. This program will also cover installing drip irrigation. $25.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center  in Dallas has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, WaterSense Program to host a symposium for builders, municipalities, utilities, city council, city code enforcement, city planners and landscape architects. This symposium will increase awareness of EPA’s WaterSense Labeled New Home Program, and other voluntary partnership programs, to promote building water efficient homes in our communities that are in harmony with other green home energy saving efforts. Info: Karen Sanders, karen.sanders@tamu.edu or 972-952-9671. Free.

Festival featuring outdoor activities, live music and food vendors. Attendees can test their skills at archery, climbing, kayaking, biking, and geo-caching; view demonstrations by historians and craftsmen of the Cross Timbers eco-region; or take a carriage ride down the Greenbelt Trail. Kid's activities include birds of prey and reptile exhibits, pony rides, Backyard Bass competition and an inflatable obstacle course and slide. Organized by the Greenbelt Alliance of Denton County, together with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the city of Denton, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Info: Lauren Poleski: 682-365-8677 or Poleski.Lauren@gmail.com

Ann Drumm will discuss anticipated climate impacts in North Texas and prospects for regional climate resilience planning, which is as important as efforts to mitigate greenhouse gases. Free.

The city of Dallas Park and Recreation Department is recruiting volunteer citizens to beautify their favorite neighborhood parks. Register: Diana Caswell, 214-670-8483. 

The city of Fort Worth and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas announced the winners of the inaugural EcoScape contest. Three winners were selected for their yards, which demonstrated water efficient landscaping. 

A free public tour will begin at 11:30 a.m., starting at the third place winner's home.

First: 3217 Field Street, Haltom City; Second: 4005 W. 6^th Street, Fort Worth; Third: 2517 Ryan Avenue, Fort Worth.